Gauge for watch strap ends or the like



Feb; 18. 1947, l

Filed Aug l1.' 1944 l l h il] 2 La LV2-0 bbawm.

Patented Feb. 18,1947

'UNITED STATES PATENTM IOFFICE GAUGE FOR WATCH STRAP ENDS OR THE LIKE *j Mathias Hoffman, Pottstown, Pa.

' Application August 11, 1944;, seriaino. 549,033

inventionr relates to means for gauging and4 marking small tubular elements, and 'more particularly to means for gauging and marking the tubular metal ends of watch straps so that stock ends may be accurately and quickly sawed to propel length to fit properly between the differently spaced strap lugs of wrist watches, the primary object of the invention being to provide an eflicient, inexpensive, and easily manipulated device'of this type which will enable jewelers and others to save time and waste in installing watch straps and the like. Y v

The various features and advantages of the invention are made more apparent in the following description and the appended drawing showing a construction according to the invention merely for illustration.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of vthe exemplary embodiment; i

Figure 2 is a top plan View;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken through Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken through Figure 1 along the line -i, and

vFigure 5 is a similar section along the line 5 5 of Figure 1. v t

Referring in detail tothe; drawing, the main body 6 of the gauge is elongated and of rectangular cross section, but may have another suitable cross section, and it has a reduced cylindrical extension i eccentrically on one end. Parallel bores 8 and 9 run through the body, the bore 8 through a portion thereof from one end and the bore 9 entirely therethrough and including its extension l and they both open into a pinion accommodating recess Ill in the middle of the body in which a pinion II is arranged on one end of a shaft I2 having a collar I3 .bearing against the inner end of a bushing I@ threaded in an opening I5 in the side of the body and journalling the shaft I2. A knurled knob I6 is provided on the outer end of the shaft I2 for operating it. A shaft extension I2 turns in a bearing opening I'I in the inner wall of the recess I0.

The pinion I I is ineshed with rack rods I8 and I9 slidable in the bores 8 and 9, respectively so that the rods move in opposite directions when the knurled knob I6 is turned. Both rods extend for substantial distances below the lower end of the body 6 with related vertically spaced gauging arms 2i) and 2| secured to the rods |8 and I9, respectively, with the rod I8 being slidable through an aperture in the arm 2| and the rod I9 slidable through a similar aperture in the arm 2B. A set 4 claims. (o1. .2a- 143) III lockingly engage the rod i9.

slidable on the cylindrical body extension' 1 is a cylindrical or other-cross section-block 23 which has a bore 2li in its lower end conformedly receiv` A second set screw 24- can engage the shoulder Z defined by the cut away.v

The block 23 has a bore 2l circular opening Sil cut in the side of the upper part ofthe block. Theupper end portion of the rack rod I9 in the bore portion 28is reduced as at lI9 to define the shoulder 3|. The reduced portion Iii of the rod is spaced from the upper part of the bore portion 28 to accommodate a watch strap end 32 placed thereon-and resting on the shoulder 3 To use the gauge, the set screws 24' and 22 are loosened and the knob I6 is turned to place the gauging arms 2|) and 2| at opposite ends of the strap end 32 to be cut, asr indicated in Figure 1. The block 23 is then pushed down against the rack rod I8 and locked in place by the set screw 2li.

The knob It is then turned to bring the gauging arms toward each other and within the strap lugs 33 on the watch 3d, (see Figure 3) and the set screw 22-is tightened.

The tubular watch strap end 32 is now placed on the reduced rod portion or pin I9 to rest on the shoulder 3|. If the strap end is too wide,

a portion thereof will project above the upper end of the block 23. The projecting part is then marked, and the strap end is then reversed on the pin and again marked. The strap end is then removed from the pin and sawed or filed off at each end-according to the markings, and will be formed to t perfectly between the watch lugs It will be' understood that the invention is not limited to the mechanical means disclosed herein for operating the rods I8 and I9 and locking and releasing the block 23 and rod I9, since other` equivalent or suitable mechanisms are known in the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. A gauge of the class described for marking -screw 22 threaded in the bodyl 6 is provided toextending therethrough which has an enlarged intermediate por-"- tion 2t which opens at one'side into a semi-V 3 the longitudinal edge portion of transverse tubular ends of watch straps and the like for the sizing of said strap end portions as to the width thereof so as to t between the strap lugs on a watch case and the like, said gauge comprising an elongated body provided with parallel 1ongitudinal bores therethrough, elongated longitudinally movable gauge rodsI slidable through the bores and projecting beyondvopposite end portions of said body, opposed lateral gauging arms located on the guide rods beyond one end of the body for engaging the opposed ends of thev transverse tubular end portion of the strap when placed between said gauge arms and said arms being also insertable between the spaced strap lugs on a watch case and the like, a block provided in its side adjacent one end with a longitudinally extended lateral recess, said block being mounted longitudinally movable on the adjacent end of the body so that the block can be adjusted longitudinally with relation to the adjacent end of the body, a shoulder on the side of said adjustable block and opposedly engageable with the adjacent end of one of the gauge rods, said block being formed with a bore receiving the otherl gauge rod longitudinally slidable therein, the major portion of the block bore being enlarged in diameter, the latter rod having a reduced axial pin extension on its extremity and located within the upper part of the enlarged portion of said block bore and defining a shoulder on the rod constituting a rest for the lower end of the transverse tubular strap end portion placed on the axial pin, common operating means for moving the gauge rods simultaneously in opposite directions to place the lateral gauge arms thereof against the opposed ends of the transverse tubular strap end portion to be gauged prior to the placing of said strap end portion on said axial pin extension of said gauge rod, said operating means being also effectively usable to move the gauge rods to position the lateral gauge arms in spaced apart relation so as to enter between the watch case lugs or the like between which the strap end portion is to be tted, means for releasably locking said adjustable block to said major body member of the device, and releasable means for locking to the main body member the gauge rod which cooperates with the adjustable block on said body member.

2. A device of the character described, comprising an elongated main body having a reduced longitudinal extension on one end, a block slidable longitudinally on said extension, laterally spaced longitudinally adjustable gauge rods mounted slidably in parallel bores in said main body with one of the gauge rods extended and slidable longitudinally in an aligned bore in said block, said block having a shoulder adjacent its inner end in opposed abutting relation to the adjacent end of the other gauge rod, common operating means for moving the gauge rods simultaneously but in opposite directions relative to each other, said gauge rods extending beyond the end of the main body opposite to the end on which the longitudinal extension is provided, said extended portions of the rods having lateral gauge arms, one each respectively thereon and in opposed relation to each other, means for releasably locking said block in its longitudinally adjusted position on the reduced longitudinal extension of the main body, and means for releasably locking to the main body the gauge rod that cooperates with said block.

3. A gauge device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the common operating means for moving the gauge rods comprises the provision of longitudinal toothed racks on the opposed inner sides of the rods, a pinion mounted rotatably in the main body with its peripheral teeth in mesh with the racks of said gauge rods, and means operable externally of the main body for rotating the pinion.

4. A gauge device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the common operating means for moving the gauge rods comprises the provision of longitudinal racks on the opposed inner sides of the rods, a pinion mounted rotatably within the main body with its peripheral toothed portion in mesh with said racks on the gauge rods, manually manipulable means externally of the main b ody and operatively connected 'to said pinion whereby to,

rotate the same, and the lateral gauge arms comprising plate members each secured rigidly to the gauge rod carrying the same and being of a substantial width and provided with an aperture through which the other gauge rod is freely slidable.

MATHIAS L. HOFFMAN. 

